Australia’s Liam Paro has reportedly agreed to a blockbuster unification title fight against American superstar Devin Haney, with the pair now expected to finish what shapes a huge end to the year for Aussie fight fans.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia back in August, Paro’s promoters No Limit have been intent on securing the Queenslander a showdown with one of the sport’s biggest names – and it appears now the deal is done.
Speaking on Inside the Ring on Thursday morning, US boxing journalist Mike Coppinger reported the two sides have reached a deal to throw down, with the bout tipped to take place before the year is out.
Paro is the IBF welterweight champion, while Haney holds WBO gold.
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Should the fight get confirmed, it will end a huge year for Australian fighters – with Tim Tszyu set to face WBA middleweight king Erislandy Lara and Nikita Tszyu also making his hyped US debut in December.
As yet, no opponent for ‘The Butcher’ has been named.
After Fox Sports Australia initially reported negotiations were underway, Paro then doubled down and accused Haney of deliberately ducking the unification showdown, revealing: “I’ve said I’m good to fight and we ain’t heard a thing”.
While the two camps had initially discussed an October showdown, it now appears the bout will take place shortly before Christmas.
For Paro, a Haney fight – most likely staged in the United States – will represent the first defence of the IBF welterweight crown won against Lewis Crocker in June.
Initially, US reports suggested Paro was pricing himself out of the fight by demanding too much via promoters No Limit, with Haney then linked to bouts against Englishman Jack Catterall and Shakur Stevenson.
Around that time, former world champion Timothy Bradley even suggested Paro was ducking Haney by asking for too much money.
“Did Liam Paro price himself out? Is that another form of duck?” Bradley asked, before then answering his own question with: “That’s another form of ducking right there.”
However, Paro strenuously denied pricing himself out of the contest, and instead said it was Haney who was deliberately avoiding him.
“Haney is ducking me,” Paro told Fox Sports Australia. “I’ve said I’m good to fight by the end of October, and we ain’t heard a thing.”
Pushed on his desire to fight Haney next, the popular Queenslander continued: “I’ll fight him next no worries.
“You know I’ll fight anyone. And I’ve proved that my whole career. I’ll fight him in his backyard or mine. I’m the IBF welterweight champion. This is a big unification fight with a lot on the line.”
No Limit promoter George Rose also confirmed his client wants the Haney fight.
“We have plans in place for Liam and, originally, Haney wasn’t in those,” he explained. “But after speaking with Team Paro, they’ve indicated to us that if we can get the right deal done, it’s the big fight they want.
“Paro versus Haney is a big fight.”
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Only weeks ago, Paro went and called out both Haney and fellow American superstar Ryan Garcia via social media.
Writing on ‘X’, the champ fired: “Ryan Garcia says I’m ‘renting’ the IBF belt, while Haney fans say I’m ducking Devin or pricing myself out.
“Here’s the truth — I’ve accepted BOTH fights. My team has been reasonable on the money and I’ll fight either man any day of the week. I’m a proven two-division world champion. I don’t duck anybody.
“@Realdevinhaney — you want to unify? Let’s do it.
“@RyanGarcia — if I’m renting this belt, come and take the f***ing keys.
“Enough talk. Send the contract. Pick the date. I’ll be there.”
For Haney, the fight will be his first since becoming a three-division world in November last year, when he claimed the WBO belt via a strong decision win over Brian Norman Jr.
Most recently, Haney been in discussions to face WBO super lightweight champ Shakur Stevenson.
That fight never eventuated however, with the camps arguing over weight and rehydration clauses before Stevenson also suddenly got a release from his Zuffa Boxing contract.
Paro, meanwhile, joined Australia’s elite club of multiple division world champions when he beat Crocker by unanimous decision in June.
The win was the Queenslander’s third straight since losing his IBF 140-pound title to Richardson Hitchins in 2024.